Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Bartholomew Brosnan who was known as Bart or Batt, was born at Albury on 24 May 1897, the youngest son of Patrick (also known as Patrick Timothy, being a son of Timothy) and Margaret (née Horgan) Brosnan, and was baptized Roman Catholic at Temuka on 18 June 1897 (Bartholomew Brosnahan). Patrick and Margaret who both hailed from County Kerry, Ireland, married in 1888 at Temuka, New Zealand. They had three sons and five daughters, their eldest son Timothy dying in 1903, aged just 14. Patrick and Margaret farmed at Milford near Temuka for many years before moving to Albury in 1908. Along with some of his sisters, Bartholomew went to the Albury School in February 1908, leaving at the age of 14½ to go out to work.

Come June 1916 and B. J. Brosnan was in the Manawatu district. It was actually at Palmerston North that Bartholomew was medically examined on 20 June 1916. Presumably he was working there at the time. He was one of the taller men to serve in the war, standing at 6 feet 1 inch. Weighing 152 pounds, with a chest measurement of 32½-35 inches, he had a medium complexion, blue grey eyes and brown hair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs well formed, and his chest fairly well formed. He had had appendicitis, but had never been absent from work owing to illness.. Free from diseases, vaccinated, and in good bodily and mental health, he was deemed fit. Enlisting as Bartholomew John Brosnan at Trentham on 27 June 1916, he gave his employer as P. T. Brosnan (probably his father), Albury, South Island, Albury also being his address. A farmhand, single and Roman Catholic, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs Margaret Brosnan, Albury.

The Eighteens had been called up. This morning – 27 June 1916 - afforded another illustration of the young New Zealanders’ response to the call of duty, the district’s quota of the Eighteenth Reinforcements mustering in Palmerston and departing for camp. One notable feature regarding this district and its reinforcement drafts is that the greater the duration of the war the greater has been the enthusiasm and alacrity with which the recruits have responded to the call of arms. This morning’s draft was one of the largest that has ever gathered in Palmerston, and as they marched into the Square where their formal send-off was to take place, they presented a fine appearance, and gave an impression of confidence that the new men will uphold the proud record of the reinforcements which have preceded them. [Manawatu Standard, 27 June 1916.] The attendance of citizens was very large. The Eighteenths were warmly cheered by the by-standers as they stepped out to the lively tempo of the Municipal Band, which played them to the point of departure. The recruits were addressed by the Mayor, who reminded them of the late Lord Kitchener’s advice: ‘Do your duty and honour the King.’ Colonel Hume’s parting words were “Farewell, a safe return, and may success attend your arms.” The Rev. A. Doull prayed that the men would reach the front safely, and have a safe return to their homes, where warm welcomes would await them. Cheers for the troops were given on the call of the Mayor, and was heartily returned by the men, who were then marched to the station. Among those men who left for camp was B, J. Brosnan. Private B. J. Brosnan was initially posted to the 18th Reinforcements.

The Albury Public Hall was packed on 14 September 1916 when Private B. Brosnan and four comrades, all very popular young men of the district were given a public farewell. These men are of the 18th Reinforcements and were on final leave. Mr A. Lindsay presided, and in his opening remarks pointed out why they all should fight for the freedom they at present possessed and hoped to maintain. As a schoolmaster he was well acquainted with the departing soldiers, as they had been pupils of his, and he felt sure they would acquit themselves as those who had gone before them and uphold the honour and name New Zealand boys had made at the Front. He then made a presentation to each of the departing men, and all were heartily cheered. Other speakers wished the soldiers God Speed, good luck, and a safe return. Private V. Sullivan, who responded on behalf of the departing soldiers, thanked the speakers for their complimentary remarks, and their good wishes, as well as for their handsome presents, and said he hoped that they would all get to the firing line, and prove themselves worthy of those who had gone before them. Vocal items were given, and the evening concluded with three cheers for the departing soldiers, and the singing of Auld Lang Syne. After spending their final leave with their parents at Albury, two local lads – Private B. Brosnan and Private V. Sullivan – returned to camp in early October 1916.

It was with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade of the 9th Reinforcements that Rifleman B. J. Brosnan embarked, departing from Wellington on 11 October 1916 per the “Tofua”. Disembarking at Plymouth, England on 29 December 1916, he marched into Camp at Sling. On 1 February 1917 he proceeded overseas to France and marched into Camp at Etaples four days later. On joining his Battalion in the Field on 5 March 1917, he was posted to D Company. In May 1917 Bartholomew was deprived of 2 days’ pay for failing to comply with an order and for being absent from tattoo Roll Call.

On 12 July 1917 he was admitted to No. 17 Casualty Clearing Station in France, sick. Evacuated to hospital, sick, on 13 July 1917, he was admitted to No. 3 New Zealand Field Ambulance, afflicted with influenza. On 15 July 1917 he was admitted to No. 18 General Hospital. Invalided from there to the UK on 29 July 1917, he was admitted to No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital at Walton on Thames, suffering from severe bronchitis. In hospital in August 1917, B. J. Brosnan was reported a severe case. By 21 August he was improving, and again by 13 September. On 4 November 1917, however, he was again admitted to No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital at Walton on Thames, the diagnosis peri-carditis. On 14 November 1917 he was classified unfit by the Medical Board, and on 13 December he was transferred to the Discharge Depot at Torquay.

On 1 February 1918 he embarked at Liverpool for New Zealand by the ‘Tahiti’ (Draft No. 149, invalided soldiers), which was to arrive in New Zealand in March. Bartholomew John Brosnan was discharged on 12 August 1918, no longer physically fit for war service on account of illness contracted on active service. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. In May 2017, Marie, a niece of Bartholomew, recalled that he was in a bad way after the war. Bartholomew intended to resettle in Albury on his return from the war, which he did for the remainder of his life, continuing farm work until retirement in the 1950s. In April 1918, he had notified Base records of his change of address – Albury, South Canterbury. In May 1925, the Canterbury Land Board approved the transfer of Section 50, Block 15, Te Ngawai, “Albury” from Bartholomew John Brosnan to Patrick Brosnan, jun. (his brother). B. Brosnan contributed to the Mackenzie County quota for the “On to Victory Appeal” in May 1943 and to theMackenzie County Patriotic Fund in September 1944.

Bartholomew John Brosnan (Bart) died at his residence, Albury, on 1 September 1965, aged 68 years. Following a Requiem Mass at the Albury Catholic Church, he was buried alongside family members in the Albury Cemetery, where a services stone marks his grave. Members of the Mackenzie RSA attended his funeral. His next-of-kin at his death in 1965 was his sister, Miss M. Brosnan, of Albury. Batt was survived by his five sisters, his brother Patrick having died in 1946. This brother Patrick Brosnan was listed on the 1916-1917 Reserve Rolls, a farmer at Albury. In May 1917 his name was drawn in the ballot to complete South Canterbury’s quota of the 31st Reinforcements. When the Second Canterbury Military Service Appeal Board sat in Timaru on 4 September, Patrick Brosnan, farmer, Albury, said his father was an invalid. Two sons were at the front [seemingly an error]. One had been severely wounded and was in hospital. Appellant looked after two farms. The case was referred to the Efficiency Board, and in October adjourned sine die. The Second Canterbury Military Appeal Board sat in Timaru on 27 August 1918. Patrick Brosnahan [sic], Albury, asked for further leave, as the farm could not be carried on without him. He had only one brother, and he had returned from the front invalided. It was said that the Board would not let off a single man when it meant sending a married man in his stead. The case had already been adjourned for more than a year. Appellant was given till November 4. Patrick married in 1923, had four sons (one dying in infancy) and a daughter; he died in 1946 and was buried alongside Bartholomew. Their mother Margaret died on 14 July 1928 and their father Patrick Timothy on 27 October 1938, both at their residence, Rocky Gully, Albury. They were buried at Temuka with their son Timothy.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [01 July 2014; earlier]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5530 0018554) [17 June 2014]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [09 February 2016]; Baptism record (Christchurch Catholic Diocese Baptisms Index CD - held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [19 July 2015]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG); Timaru Herald, 2 September 1965 (Timaru District Library) [03 July 2015]; Albury Cemetery headstone transcription (South Canterbury Branch NZSG records) [04 February 2014]; Albury Cemetery burial record (Mackenzie District Council) [15 April 2014]; Albury Cemetery headstone image (Find A Grave) [10 March 2026]; Timaru Herald, 27 July 1903, 19 September 1916, 5 October 1916, 9 May 1917, 11 August 1917, 5 September 1917, 18 October 1917, 28 August 1918, 14 July 1928, 28 October 1936, 24 May 1943, 8 September 1944, Manawatu Standard, 27 June 1916, Evening Post, 13 March 1918, Sun, 13 March 1918, Press, 26 May 1925 (Papers Past) [05 November 2013; 28 February 2014; 18 July 2015; 09 & 13 February 2016; 04 February 2017; 09 August 2021; 10 & 12 March 2026]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [15 April 2014; March 2026]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• BROSNAN Bartholomew John - newspaper clippings (pdf, 175.5 KB updated 06-Apr-2026)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS